Traffic-director



F. B. HENRETTA.

TRAFFIC DIRECTOR.

APPLICATION men MAYZB. 191s.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Fig.4 I 5.: g

FRANCIS B. HENRETTA, or ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.

Specification of Letters 1 mm. -Patnted A g. 22 1916 Application filed m2a, 1916. "sci-111.1%. 99,979.

Z0 all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. HENRETTA,

a citizen of the United States, residing ,at

Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements in Traffic-Dime tors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has to do with means for directing traffic on citystreets and the principal objects thereof are, 1st, to provide anautomatic device for displaying traffic signals and one capable ofregulation so as to allow variable intervals of traffic in severaldirections; 2nd, to provide in connection with such devices means foradvertising violations of traffic rules.

With such general and other specific ob- 1 jects in view the inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereindescribed and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammaticalrepresentation of the timing and regulating portion of my invention.Fig. 2 a representation in plan view of intersecting streets showing therelative locations of certain of the elements used; Fig. 3 is a wiringdiagram in which will be traced the electrical connections by means ofwhich the desired results are obtained; Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticalsection through one of the safety bars in the street paving showing themeans by which the return of the same to normal position may be delayedthrough a short period of time.

The device is intended for use primarily at intersecting streets, andsuch a street crossing is shown in Fig. 2, the letters N, W, S and Edesignatingthe directions north, west, south and east respectively. Thedirection of traffic is indicated at each quarter by means of arrowssuitably directed in Fig.2.

At A,'B, C and D are located si als or semaphores which control the trac from north, west, south and east respectively. These are eachpreferably provided with a visual day signal or .semaphore arm, operatedelectrically and designated A B C and I) respectively in Fig. 3 and anight signal or light for use therewith, designated in Fig. 3 as A B Cand D respectively. These lights at night burn constantly and thesemaphore arms may carry the customary colored lenses to show white andred to indicate that the street is clear or closed to traffic. Inconnection with these semaphores there is provided a motor M which 1isuitably geared at 3 and 4 to a drum 5, the gearmg being such as toproduce a comparatively slow rotation of the drum. The drum 5 isprovided with electrical contact bands.

66 etc., of varying length and suitably wired together at 77 etc. Thereare then provided two contact fingers 8 and 9 which are movable onslides 10 and 11 so as to con tact any of the bands 6 desired. Thefinger 8 serves the semaphores A and C, or for traffic in the north andsouth directions, the finger 9 serving the semaphores B and D or forwestbound and eastbound traffic. Hence by positioning these fingers overbands 6 of various lengths and not completely encircling the drumcurrent will flow to the semaphores for any variable lengths of timedesired and be shut off therefrom during regular recurring intervals asmay be de sired. It will be understood that traffic in one directionmay, for example, be open for thirty seconds and closed for a likeperiod, the traffic in the opposite direction being open for say aperiod of ten seconds while the other stands closed, ten seconds beingallowed for clearance of the crossing in each direction. Any suchvariations may be effected by correct proportions of the drum 5 and thebands 6-6 thereon, the contact fingers being shiftable. The drum 5 isfurther provided with a continuous band 12 with a contact finger 13, theband 12 being wired to the bands 6-G at 14 and thus the circuit back tothe main source of electrical energy is completed.

In order to safeguard traffic, contact bars A B, C and D are placed inthe street paving, each being provided to warn against violations oftraffic rules from the north, west, south and east respectively. Thesebars are arranged so that if passed over and depressed when thecorresponding semapliore shows red all of the semaphores will go to redand in addition a bell 15 and light 16 will be energized at F in thecenter of the crossing. This signal will continue and the semaphoresstand at red for any desired length of time when all signals willautomatically be restored and traffic may be resumed and controlled. bythe normal opera tion of the device.

The results attained having thus been set forth the wiring andincidental parts by which the same are secured will now be de- 'contactsbeing in multiple.

scribed, reference being principally to Fig. 3. Any convenient source ofelectrical energy may be employed, such a circuit being indicated by theconventional electrical symbols and The lights A B C and D are wireddirectly across this circuit at 17 and 18, hence as long as current issupplied to the circuit these lights will burn unless cut out by meansof a suitable switch in the line. The diagram shows current flowing tothe signals B and D which are now red and the connections thereto are asfollows: from the positive side, through the wires 19 and 20, thewinding 46 of the magnetic switch 47 and the wire 48 to the finger 9,the signals being in multiple in this line; through the bands 6, thewires 7 and 14, the band 12 and finger 13 and the wire 21 to thenegative side. The signals A and C are similarly wired from the positiveside to the drum through the wires 22 and 23, the winding 49 of themagnetic switch 47 and the wire 50. -Thus the revolutions of the drum 5alternately display the signalsv A C and B D The motor M is wired fromthe positive to the negative side through the wires 24 and 27, theconnector 25 of the magnetic switch 26 normally connecting these wires.The semaphores A and C at this time show, whitef hence the bars B and Dguard the northbound and southbound traflio. In case either of thesebars is depressed connection will be made between the wires 36 and 37 at38 or 39, these The magnetic switch 47 functions as follows: Twowindings are supplied, these being wound for opposite polarity, the one(46) being in series through the wires 20 and 48 with the signals B andD the other (49) being in series through the wires 23 and 50 with thesignals A and C As long as current is flowing to the signals B and D andno current to A and C the magnetic switch will stand as indicated inFig. 3 with connection made between the wires 51 and 36 so that the barsB and I) may complete the circuit to the switch 26. If current should beflowingto the signals A and C and not to B and D the reverse conditionwould exist, the wires 28 and 52 being connected and 36 and 51disconnected. In this latter ca e .the bars A and C would be effectiveand 13 and D non-effective.

The bands 66 on the drum overlap each other so that during the intervalof clearing the crossing all four signals are receiving current so astohold them at red. In this case the windings 49 and 46 balance eachother and all bars become ineffective so that delayed and slightlypremature crossing of these bars will not tie up traffic. But as of barsB or D will cause current to flow through the winding of the magneticswitch 26 thence through the wire 32 to the wire 20 and. through theregular drum connections to the negative side. The electric switch 26being magnetized the connection 25 will be broken and the motor Mstopped. At the same time the signals A and C will be set through thewire 33, the connector 34 and the wire 35. A second connector 40 of themagnetic switch 26 cuts in the multipleconnected bell 15 and light 16through the wires 41 and 42. 7

When the bars A and C guard the eastbound and westbound traffic thedepressing of either of these bars will connect the wires 28 and 29 at30 or 31, thus cutting in the magnetic switch winding through the wires29 and 43 to the wire 23 and thence through the line through the wires32 and 44, the connector 45 and the wire 35. light 16 cut in as before.

While the depression of the bars A B C or D is permissible when thetrafiic over the same is clear, yet a violation of the sig nal will beinstantly advertised and all signals will go to red.

The bars A B C and D may be supplied with a suitable retarding devicesuch as the commercial check arrangement 53 indicated in Fig. 4 by meansof which the bar depressed, such as B may be held down and the magneticswitch 26 be held in for any period of time desired so as to allow theviolated crossing to become clear. When released and contact broken, theswitch 26 automatically returns to its normal position and at once allsignals will be reinstated and trafiic may be resumed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that an open circuitcauses the semaphores, to go to white, the closed circuit showing red.shutting off of current all semaphores will go to white and trafiic maybe directed by an officer as usual.

I have thus provided an automatic traflic The bell 15 and directorsuitable for use in cities where congestion exists. And it will beunderstood that while the embodiment of the invention just described isa practical and desirable one, yet other embodiments are possible withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

1. A traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets embodying anelectric signal at each of the four corners, and in combinationtherewith a primary electric cireuit, two branch circuits therefrom,each embracing the signals on diagonally oppo- Thus in case of accidentor site corners, and an automatic controlling mechanism for the samewhereby the flow of current in the branch circuits may be alternated soas to alternate the display of signals on diagonal corners at and duringvariable intervals.

2. A traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets embodying anelectric signal at each of the four corners, means for controlling saidsignals in diagonally opposite pairs, said means comprising anelectrical circuit, a rotating drum therein, a series of bands ofvarying lengths thereon, movable contacts for said bands, each of whichhas electrical connection with a pair of said signals, the said bandsand contacts being so arranged that current Will be admitted to one pairof signals before being shut off from the other pair.

3. In a traffic directing device an electric circuit, a plurality oflights connected across the same, an electrically actuated mechanicalsignal for each light, timed means for changing said mechanical signals.at variable and recurring periods, said means and said mechanicalsignals being actuated from the same source of electrical energy as thesaid lights.

4. In a traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, a plurality of signal lamps in the same, one locatedat each corner, a motor connected in multiple with the said lamps,electrically operated mechanical signals on each of the four streetcorners, the diagonal signals being wired in pairs and all being inmultiple with the lamp signals, the said motor carrying means foralternating the flow of current between the pairs of signals.

5. In a. traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, a plurality of signal lamps in the same, one locatedat each corner, a motor connected in multiple with the said lamps,electrically operated mechanical signals on each of the four streetcorners, the diagonal signals being wired in pairs and all being inmultiple with the lamp signals, the said motor carrying means foralternating the flow of current between the pairs of. signals, the saidsignals being arranged to be displayed when current is admitted theretoand to be withdrawn when the circuit is broken.

6. In a traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, a plurality of signal lamps in the same, one locatedon each corner, a motor connected in multiple with the said lamps,electrically operated mechanical signals on each of the four streetcorners, the diagonal signals being wired in pairs and all being inmultiple with the lamp signals, the said motor carrying means foralternating the flow of current between the pairs of signals. the saidsignals being arranged to be displayed when current is admitted theretoand to be withdrawn when the circuit is broken, the said alternatingmeans being so arranged that one pair of signals will be cut in for avari able length of time before the other pair is cut out.

7. In a traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, a plurality of signal lamps in the same, one locatedon each corner, a motor connected in multiple with the said lamps,electrically operated mechanical signals on each of the four streetcorners, the diagonal signals being wired in pairs and all being inmultiple with the lamp signals, the said motor carry ing means foralternating the flow of current between the pairs of signals, and meanslocated in the paving of one street adapted and connected to shortcircuit the signals controlling traffic on the other street.

8. In a traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, a plurality of signal lamps in the same, one locatedon each corner, a motor connected in multiple with the said lamps,electrically operated mechanical signals on each of the four streetcorners, the diagonal signals being wired in pairs and all being inmultiple with the lamp signals, the said motor carrying means foralternating the flow of current between the pairs of signals, and meanslocated in the paving of one street adapted and connected to shortcircuit the signals controlling traffic on the other street, and aseparate tell-tale signal connected so as to be actuated when the saidsignals are short circuited.

9. In a traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, .a plurality of signal lamps in the same, one locatedon each corner, a motor connected in multiple with the said lamps,electrically operated mechanical signals on each of the four streetcorners, the diagonal signals being wired in pairs and all being inmultiple with the lamp signals, the said motor carrying means foralternating the flow of current between the pairs of signals, and meanslocated in the paving of one street adapted and connected to shortcircuit the signals controlling traffic on the other street, and aseparate tell-tale signal connected so as to be actuated when the saidsignals are short circuited, and automatic means carried bythe saidshort-circuiting means whereby the said short-circuit may be maintainedfor a short period of time and then released.

10. In a traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, a plurality of signal lamps in the same, one locatedon each corner, a motor connected in multiple with the said lamps,electrically operated mechanical signals on eaclrof the four streetcorners, the diagonal signals Ill being wired in pairs and all being inmultipie with the lamp signals, the said motor carrying means foralternating the flow vof current between the pairs of signals, and meanslocated in the paving of one street adapted and connected to shortcircuit the signals controlling trafiic on the other street, and tobreak the circuit to the said motor. v

11. in a traffic directing mechanism for intersecting streets, anelectric circuit, a motor connected across said circuit, electricallyoperated mechanical signals on each of the four street corners, thediagonal signals being wired in pairs and the pairs being wired inmultiple across the line with a common lead, the said motor carryingmeans for alternativel connectin either of the pairs of signals with thecommon lead, short circuiting means located in the street pavingat eachcorner and adapted to make elec trical contact when depressed, wherebythe signals in the opposite street will be short circuited, means fromthenormal circuit to the said signal for making or breaking theconnection from the said short circuiting means, the latter being soarranged that the short-circuit connection will be broken when.

